Rabbi Howard Morrison

In a Passover class I taught on line, we raised the question:  when did slavery actually begin in the Biblical narrative? Already in God's initial conversations with Abraham, we learn about the four hundred years that will be spent in servitude among Abraham's descendants, but why?

After God calls upon Abraham (called Abram initially) to go forth to the promised land, soon after a famine occurs. On his own authority, Abraham goes down to Egypt and puts himself and Sarah (called Sarai initially) at risk when he has her pretend to be his sister and not his wife before Pharaoh. In this particular epic, we read about famine as well as plagues inflicted upon Pharaoh. Sounds familiar - We will notice the same events surrounding the Children of Israel going to and residing in Egypt.

So, why does God initiate the period of Israelite slavery with Abraham? Some commentators fault Abraham for leaving the promised land without divine sanction. These commentators also find fault with Abraham in how he treated his wife. Slavery comes to denote a breakdown of faith in one's family and with God.

While the Israelites are ultimately freed as a nation, worthy of the annual Passover celebration, we Jews continue to be enslaved in our relationships with God and loved ones within the family.

May I suggest in the time we have before the onset of the festival that we do the necessary repair as best we can to mend the broken relationships in our lives.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison